Sorry for the delay in posting the results of the US
Open. Had a very busy
week here in Maine. After the tournament, Kancho Matsushima gave a clinic
on Sunday to all visiting members. On Monday and Tuesday Kancho taught my
intermediate and advance classes (kids and adults). His classes went over
BIG. I took Kancho and his wife to Shihan Tom Flynn's dojo on Wednesday
for
meetings and training on Thursday and Kancho is returning to Japan today to
prepare for the All Japan tournament early in November.

Now for the tournament. This was the biggest and best tournament that I
promoted to date. 60 fighters originally registered but only 35
fought. I
was a little disappointed, but these things happen. 35 fighters was the
most that I have had fight for me. Unfortunately the men's heavyweight and
women's division got short changed. I know in comparison to other
tournaments, mine is small, but what it lacks in numbers it makes up in a
smooth running and fair tournament. I received great feedback from
fighters and coaches. I personally felt that the refereeing needs to take
a step up. I talked with center referee Tom Flynn who has a great deal of
expertise and he has come up with a plan to qualify all black belts in the
IKO3 for corner ref's.

Here's some special highlights of the fights;

In the boys light weight division semi finals saw a great match between
Mike McInnis of Oxford Maine and Adamo Silviera of StLeonard Canada with
McInnis the victor. These kids put on a heck of a fight and I look forward
to seeing them fight without the pads in a few years.

The women's semi-finals saw a great match between Peggy Grosser of
Antwerp Belgium and Cecilia Brunetti of Shidokan in Chicago. Brunetti
was 15 pounds light and several inches shorter but was pressing the fight.
Grosser landed a strong jodan mawashi geri that stunned Brunetti but
Brunetti continued. The fight went three rounds and Grosser won by
decision. Brunetti's performance gave her a close second in the Sosai Budo
Award.

Men's heavyweight finals saw Joe Indrieri the US Shidokan Champion make fast
work of Mike Lowell. Lowell weighed in over 300 pounds to Indrieri's
220lbs, but Indrieri was the superior fighter.

The men's lightweight division was were the most excitement was. Fighters
from Shidokan, Shorin-ryu, Ashihara, IFK and of course IKO3 fought in this
nine man division. In the second round Hoosain Narker from South Africa
had an incredible spinning, dropping heal kick from close quarters that
downed his opponent from Canada. It was the best point of the night.
Strong finals saw Tony Pizzi from Montreal Kyokushin defeat Chris Ortiz
from Chicago Shidokan for 3rd and 4th. Narker of South Africa fought Joe
Addesso of Montreal for first and second. Extremely strong match.
You
could tell that Narker was feeling a bit tired. Narker has been in the
United States for the past several weeks touring. In a earlier match he
had damaged his foot and Addesso took advantage of this. Addesso won on a
decision.

In the men's middleweight division, Ian Armstrong of Shidokan Karate in
Chicago was the talk of the town. Ian had missed his flight on Friday from
Chicago and did not arrive until Saturday morning. Ian, with no byes,
ipponed his first two opponents within two minutes. In the semi finals he
fought the very strong Arnold Sochacki of Poland via Rhode Island. Ian
went on to the finals to meet Jason Tripp of the IFK. Excellent match with
Ian getting the decision and taking first place and the honor of the Sosai
Budo Spirit Award.

Thanks to all and I look forward to seeing all at next years tournament.